Brake system



' July 22, 1941.

J. w. LOGAN, .JR

BRAKE SYSTEM Filed MrchO 1940 2f Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY July 22, 1941. J. w. LOGAN, JR

BRAKE SYSTEM Filed March 50 41940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 R. J mm n UG. W ,i ww. .m w Sa NL Q mw M www O .J

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Patented July 22, 1941 BRAKE SYSTEM John W. Logan, Jr., Forest Hills, Pa., assigner to The Westinghouse Air Brake Company, Wilmerding, Pa., `a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 30, 1949, Serial No. 327,028

9 Claims.

This invention relates to brakes for railway Vehicles, and more particularly to a combined fluid pressure and dynamic brake equipment for a motor driven railway vehicle.

In the construction of a driving motor truck for an electric railway vehicle, it is customary to provide a traction motor casing which is journaled on and partly supported by an axle of the truck, and which is operatively connected with the axle through the medium of Va constantly meshed pinionand gear assembly. The traction motor may be designed for operation as a dynamic brake in conjunction with the usual uid pressure brake, in which case it is necessary to provide brake control means for effecting operation of the two brake means in the desired sequence. Since the efficiency of a dynamic brake decreases with the speed of the vehicle, the brake control means is preferably constructed and arranged to effect suppression ofthe fluid pressure brake While the dynamic brake is operative to apply the required braking force to the vehicle wheels, and to effect an application of the fluid pressure brake after the speed of the vehicle has been reduced to a low value.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a combined dynamic and fluid pressure brake system including improved means for regulating the application of the fluid pressure bra-ke apparatus in accordance with the braking effect produced by the dynamic brake means, the regulating means comprising a fluid pressure brake controlling valve device responsive to braking torque resulting initially from operation of the dynamic brake.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved dynamic and fluid pressure brake equipment for the truck of the motor driven vehicle, comprising a frame structure journaled on an axle of the vehicle and carrying both the traction motor arranged for dynamic braking and the brake vcylinder and rigging elements of the fluid pressure brake apparatus, together with a brake controlling valve device mounted on the truck and operatively connected with the frame structure for controlling operation of the iluid pressure brake means in accordance with the total braking torque produced during an application of the brakes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combined dynamic and fluid pressure brake equipment of the type just described, in which the brake controlling valve device is responsive not only to braking torque set up by operation of such as that indicated at I E.

the dynamic brake, but also to the pressure of fluid in a control pipe.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following more detailed description thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a schematic elevational View, mainly in section, of a dynamic and fluid pressure brake equipment constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating a portion of the brake equipment shown in Fig. 1. It should be understood that Fig. 1 is taken substantially along the line I-I of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sectional View of the cylinder portion of the control valve device shown in Fig. l. Y

Description y In Fig. 1 of the drawings is illustrated a portion of a railway truck including a frame I I), and

one of a pair of wheels I I suitably secured to an axle I 2, which is journaled in a journal box structure I3 that is slidably guided between a pair of 'pedestal portions I4 of the frame.

Mounted on the journal box I3 is one end of an equalizer bar I5, which together with a companion equalizer bar, not shown, is arranged to support the frame I0 through the medium of truck springs For applying braking force to the wheels there is provided a com,- bined dynamic and fluid pressure brake system, which includes a traction motor 20, a brake cylinder device 2|, a brake regulating valve device 22,

" Vand a manually operable brake controller device 23,- which is'constructed and arranged to control application and release of both the dynamic and fluid pressure brake mechanisms, as hereinafter explained.

The traction motor 20 may be of any suitable A type, and has associated therewith the necessary electrical circuits, illustrated in diagrammatic form as including conductors 24, through the medium of which the manually operable brake controller 23 is adapted to effect operation of the motor as a dynamic brake. The motor 20 is mounted in a frame structure, which as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, comprises a motor housing portion 26, a gear casing portion 2l, a pair of centrally disposed bearing portions 28 which are journaled on the axle I2, and a brake carrier portion 29 extending from the bearing portion and arranged on the opposite side of the axle with respect to the motor housing portion 26. As shown in Fig. 1, the shaft 132 of the motor 2i) is provided with apinion 33 which is mounted in constantly meshed relation with a gear 34 that is suitably secured to the axle I2 of the vehicle truck. It will thus be apparent that the frame structure including the portions 25, 28 and 29 is pivotally mounted with respect to the axle I2 and supports the traction motor 29 in driving relation with the wheels Y A According to my invention, the carrier portion 29 of the frame structure has formed therein a cradle-like depression for receiving the brake cylinder device 2|, which is bolted or otherwise structure 99, which is bolted or otherwise sesuitably secured therein by means not shownin..A

the drawings, and extends longitudinally of the truck. As is best shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the carrier portion 29 has-formed on-opposite sides thereof a pair of brackets 49 and 4| which project outwardly substantially into` the planes of the respective wheels H. Formedfon y interior surfaces 45 and 45 of the frame structure extending between the portions 28 and-29 are a pair of brackets 43 and 44,.which are disposed at opposite sides of thel axis of the brake cylinder device -2 Carried on the motor housing portion 26aof the frame structure are bracketslli and 49, which are similar to brackets 40 and 4| and extend outwardly into the planes of the wheels Referring to Fig. 2, each of the wheels has associated therewith a pair of brake shoe elements 5| and 52, which are hungiromthe motor Vframe `structure by means of hanger levers 53-and 54, respectively. The hanger levers 53 Varefsuspended from pins 55 carried by the respective-brackets 49 and 4|, andA the hanger levers 54 are similarly mounted on pins 5615ecured to Vthe brackets 48 and 49, respectively. A

transversely disposed brake beam-99 is pivotally connected to the two brake shoe elements 5| through the medium of pins 6|. In a similar manner the 'brake shoe elements 52 are connectedtogether through the medium of a brake hanger levers 54 -by means of pins,Y 64.V

Thebrakecylinder device 2| is of the usual type-containing-a piston, not shown, which is adapted to operatela` piston rod 19, the outer endof which carries a clevis member 1| which is pivotally connected by means of a pin 12 to the upper 'end of Favertically disposed brake lever 13." A pair 'of hanger members 14 are provided for supportingr` thev lever `1?,Ythe upper ends of the hanger members being pivotally mounted on pins-15 carried by the respective brackets 43 and 44,--and thefopposite'ends of the hanger members being journaled Von a rod 16, which, as is bestshown Yin Fig. 1, extends through a suitable apertureffcrmed-in the central portion of the lever 13. Also pivotally connected to the rod-16 isoneY end of a pull rod 18, the opposite end=bf which is; pivotally connected to a pin 19 carried by the brake beam B intermediate the ends thereof. The lower end of the brake lever 13 isf operatively connected with the brake beam tfthrough the medium of a tie rod 8|, one end of which is journaled on a pin 82 secured to the Vbrake lever and the other end of which is pivotally connected to the brake beam by means of'a pin 83. Y

The brake regulating valve device 22 may be of any suitableV type constructed and arranged tofrespond to displacement of the frame structure 'of the motor 29 for controlling the supply the-brake --cylinder device 2|," andas illustrated beam.63,the opposite ends of which are pivotally connected to the lower ends of the respective cally arranged valve casing section 9S, which is carried by the cylinder portions.

As is best shown in.Fig. 3, the cylinder portions94 and 95 of the casing structure 99 are spaced-apart and are disposed in coaxial alignment. The cylinder portion 94 has a piston bore within which is slidably mounted a piston 91, which is subject to the pressure of iiuid in a piston chamber 93, and to the opposing pressure of a spring 99 that 'is interposed between the piston anda plunger member |99.' The plunger member.|99 is slidably mounted in a Vertical bore formed in the piston portion 94 and normally projects outwardly thereof, downward movement of the member being limited by a collar lill.Y Similarly, the cylinder portion of the casing vstructure has operatively mounted thereina piston |94, which is'subject to the pressure of fluid in a chamber |95 that communicates by way of a passage |93 with the piston'chamber 99. Slidably mounted in a substantiallyfvertical bore formed in the casing portion'. 951s a plunger member |98, which projects ohtwardly thereof in coaxial alignment with theplunger member I 99 and has an annular collar |09 for Alimiting outward movement thereof under the force exerted by a coil spring ||-0','which is interposed between the piston |94 andthe plunger member.

Interposed between the spaced cylinder portions 94 and 95 fis a torque arm |29, which is carried by the motor housing portion 26 of the frame structure, and which is normally yieldingly supported through the medium of a pair of 'centering springs H9 and ||1, which respectively bear against the cylinder portions and two follower plates H8 and H9 engaging a rounded end 'of the torque arm. Suitable stop members |2| may be secured to the cylinder portions for retaining the plates when the torque arm is carried outY of'V the normal position, as hereinafter explained.

Thepistons 91y and |94 have suitable recesses formed therein ior receiving laterally project` 'inglugs |2 and ||3,-respectively. As is shown in Figi, the lugs ||2 and ||3 extend outwardly f through vertical grooves H4 and H5, which are formed-in the vcylinder portions 94 and 95, respectively.

The valve portion 95 of the casing structure 99 has formed thereon a pair of extensions |22 and 23 which. are respectively disposed above andbelow the projecting lug ||2, and a similar vpair of extensions |24 and |25 which are ar- Disposed in the valve chamber |21 is a spring pressed supply valve |35 having a stem |36 slidably mounted in a bore extending into operative alignment with the movable lug H2, which is arranged to effect unseating of the'valve |35 when moved downwardly as hereinafter explained. The valve |35 is normally held in seatedV position for closing communication be- |3|. A similar supply valve |39 isY mounted within the valve chamber |32 and is normally held in seated position under the force of a suitable spring for closing communication between that chamber and the passage |33. A stem |49 secured to the valve |39 is slidably mounted in a suitable bore and extends outwardly of the casing extension |25 into operative alignment with the lug H3. It will be apparent that the valve elements |35 and |39 are so arranged that, while either of the valves is seated, communication from the supply pipe |28 to the brake cylinder device 2| is closed.

Formed in the casing extensions |22 and |24 are valve chambers |42 and |43, within which are mounted release valves |44 and |45, respectively. T'nese valves are biased to their seated positions by suitable springs and control communications from the respective valve chambers to the atmosphere. The valve chambers |42 and |43 are connected together by way of a passage |46, which in turn communicates by way of a branch passage |49 with the passage |33 and consequently with the brake cylinder device |2|. The valve element |44 has a iiuted. stem |5| slidably mounted in a bore formed in the casing structure, which stem is arranged for engagement with the upper surface of the movable lug H2. As shown in Fig. l, the lug H2 is normally positioned for maintaining the valve element |24 in unseated position against the force exerted by the associated spring. The release valve |45 likewise has a iiuted stem |53 slidably mounted in a bore connecting the valve chamber |43 with the atmosphere, the outer end of the stem being disposed in operative alignment with the lower surface of the lug H3, which is normally biased to its lowerrnost position for holding the valve in unseated position.

The brake controller 23 is not illustrated in detail, but it will be understood that this device is of the manually operated type including a circuit controlling portion operative through the medium of the conductors 24 to condition the traction motor 2|) for operation as a dynamic brake, and a self-lapping brake valve portion operative simultaneously with the circuit4 controlling porticn for controlling the pressure of fluid in a control pipe |55, which communicates by way of a branch pipe |56 with the piston chamber 93 of the brake controlling valve device 22, as shown in Fig. 3. It will be understood that the control pipe |55 and the main reservoir supply pipe |28 may extend throughout a train made up of vehicles equipped with brake apparatus constructed in accordance with .the invention.

Operation With the vehicle brake apparatus in release position, as shown in the drawings, the control pipe 555 is connected to the atmosphere through suitable communications in the brake controller device 23, so that the pistons 9'! and |64 in the brake controlling valve device 22 are held in their outermost positions by the respective vtween the valve chamber |21 and the passage springs 99 and shown in Fig. 3, while the lugs ||2 and ||3 are consequently positioned as shown in Fig. l. The lugs ||2 and 3 are thus adapted to maintain the release valves |44 and |45 in unseated position for connecting the piston chamber of the brake cylinder device 2| to the atmosphere. At the same time, the spring pressed supply valves |35 and |39 are maintained in their seated positions as illustrated in Fig. 1. With the brakes thus released, electric current may be supplied in the usual manner to the traction motor 29 for driving the vehicle.

Let is now be assumed that the vehicle is being operated along the track toward the left-hand, as viewed in Fig. 1, so that the wheel I, axle l2 and gear 34 are rotated in a counterclockwise direction, and that the motorman operates the usual motor controller, not shown, to cut o the supply of current to the traction motor 26, and then moves the brake controller device 23 to a brake application position for eiTecting an application of the brakes. Upon operation of the brake controller device 23, the circuit controller portion thereof is actuated to connect the conductors 24 and the windings of the traction motor 26 into a dynamic braking circuit in the well known manner, while the brake valve portion of the controller device is simultaneously actuated to cause supply of iiuid under pressure from the supply pipe |23Ato the straight air pipe |55. l

When the traction motor 2i) is thus connected into a dynamic braking circuit it becomes operative to resist the counterclockwise rotation of the gear 34 and the axle |2 and wheel associated therewith, so that the frame structure including the housing portion 26 and carrier portion 29 is subjected to a reactive force, which may be termed dynamic braking torque, which tends to cause tilting of the frame structure about the axle i2 in a counterol-ockwise direction. As the motor frame structure is thus tilted about the axle, the torque arm |20 thereon. is

-` carried upwardly against the plunger member |66 of the brake controlling valve device 22.

Meanwhile, fluid under pressure supplied to the control pipe by operation of the brake controller device 23 ows through the branch pipe |56 to the piston chamber 9B of the brake controller device, shown in Fig. 3, and also flows from that chamber through the passage |96 to the lower piston chamber |65. The pressure of iluid thus admitted to the connected piston l chambers then forces the pistons 91 and |04 inwardly, against the force of each of the springs 99 and H9, until the pistons are brought into engagement with the respective plunger elements 6i) and |08.

Referring to Fig. 1, as the pistons within the cylinder portions 94 and 95 of the brake controlling valve device 22 are thus moved inwardly in response to the increase in pressure of the fluid inY the control pipe |55 kand branch pipe |56, the laterally projecting lugs H2 and ||3 are thereby moved into engagement with the valve stems |36 and |46, respectively. The piston carrying the lug ||3 then continues upward movement until the supply valve |39 is moved away from its seat. No fluid under pressure is supplied to the bra-ke cylinder device at this time, however, since the other supply valve |35 is held in seated position due to the fact that the piston carrying the lug |2 is prevented from lmoving far enough to effect unseating of that valve bythe dynamic brake torque transmittedv throughthe medium of the torque arm and acting on the frame structure in which the motor is.

mounted, the -associated fluid pressure brake apparatus is suppressed or prevented from becoming effective, although fluid under pressure is supplied through the straight air pipe for conditioning the fluid pressure brake apparatus for immediate operation in the event of failure ci the dynamic brake means.v

As the speed of the vehicle subsequently declines under the effect of dynamic braking force produced by operation of the traction motor 26 asalreadyrexplained, the eiicacy of the motor as a dynamic brake is correspondingly reduced, until the dynamic braking torque transmitted through the medium of the torque arm 2Q to the plunger member le@ -of the brake controlling valve device 22 is no longer effective to resist downward movement of the piston carrying the lug ||2 under the pressure of fluid in the straight air pipe |55, whereupon the plunger is brought into operative engagement with the stem |36 for unseating the supply valve |35. With both the supply valves and |39 thus unseated, fluid under pressure is quickly supplied from the supply pipe |28, by way of the valve chamber |21, passage |3l, valve chamber |32, passage |33, and conduit |34,to the piston chamber of the brake cylinder device 2l.

The Ypressure of fluid acting on the usual brake cylinder piston then forces the piston rod 'l outwardly, thereby operating the brake lever 'E3 to pull the brake shoes 5| and 52finto braking engagement withthe respective wheels II. The fluid pressure brake apparatusr is thus rendered operativeto take over the application of braking -force to the-vehicle wheels in order to bring the vehicle to-a stop. Y

When the brake shoes 5| and 52 are thus moved into braking relation with the wheels ll, the framesstructure including the motor housing 26 and'carrier portion 29 is-again subjected to a reactive force, which may be termed mechanical Y braking torque, which force tends to cause rotation ofthe frame structure in a counterclockwise direction about the axle |2,-'still assuming that thefwheels are rotating in the same direction. Thus if the braking eect produced by the supply of fluid under pressure to the brake cylinder device 2 as just explained should become excessive,

or should-approach a predetermined value presagingsliding of the wheels, the resultant mechanical braking torque transmitted through the medium of the torque arm IZB to the plunger member |29 of the brake controlling device 2'2 will overcome the downward pressure exerted byv straight air pipe pressure on the piston carrying `the lug H2, `so that the supply valve |35 will Y again be` moved to its seat for cutting off further der device A'2|' by'iiow Vthroughthe conduit H3A,

passage. |49; passage -|!|8' and .past' thel unseated discharge'valve |44,sothat a partial releaseA of the brakes iseffected.. The mechanicalbraking torque vreacting on'the frame structure including the torquearm |20-is. thereby lessened, the pis-v toncarrying the lug |2 then being- `moved downwardlyagain tofpermit closing-of the dischargev active braking-torque produced and. also in ac- Y cordance with. the ,pressure'of .fluid in the control pipeY |55..

It will nowbe evident that. the combination dynamic Yand fluidpressure brake equipment embodying my. invention, and including the frame structure pivotally mounted on an axle and supporting the dynamicbraking motor and elements.. .of the. fluid pressurebrake mechanism, may be.

constructed and arrangedl toV provide automatic regulation of operation .of the fluid pressure brake. apparatus in accordance with the .total braking torque produced during a brake application, .and

l. also inaccordance witha control pressure.` With a brake system havingv the. features of my .in-

vention, the initial brallzing torque created upon..

operation of the dynamic brake is utilizedfor suppressing operationcf the-fluid pressure brake. until the speed .of the vehicley has been brought to a predetermined value,.which. is .determined byy the speed required for eiective dynamic braking,. after which the. fluid Apressure brake apparatus is renderedoperative to cause further .de-- celeration of the vehicle atthe selected rate.Y

Although a preferred embodimentof the'n.-

Vention has Ybeeniillustrated and .described,.it is. not intendedto. limit the scope of. the inventionl to that embodiment or votherwise than by the. terms of the appended claims.

Having now described my invention,.what I claim as new and desire to .secure by Letters- Patent, is:

1. In a brake controlling. system. for .a Vehicle of the type equipped .with dynamic braking means.

andfluid pressure braking means.. in. combina-Y tion, a control pipe, `brake controller means manually operable to initiate .operation of said dynamic brake .while eiectingan increase in the pressure of Vfluid in said control pipe .toa value. -corresponding to the, selected degree oapplication of the brakes, brake controlling Zvalve means subject tothe pressure of iluid in saidcontrol.. pipe for controlling the supply and release of. fluid under pressure to `and from said fluidpressure brake means, and .a brake carrier member. pivot. ally mounted on the vehicle and operatively responsive to the braking vtorque produced by v operation of said dynamic brake means.. said. member being constructed andarranged to. pre-- vent operation of said brake. controllingvalve deMY vice to supply uid Vunder pressure .to said uid.

pressure brake means. duringthe initial vstages of operation of said dynamic brake means.

2. In a brake controlling system for a railway vehicle of the type equipped with a dynamic.

brake means and a fluid pressure brake means, kin combination, a control pipe, brake controller means manually-operable'to initiate operation of said-dynamic brake means to apply braking force to the-vehicle while effecting an lincrease in the pressure of fluidin-saidccntrol pipe cor# responding to the desired degree-of applicationA of the brakes, controlfvalve 'means operable to effect supply and release of` fluid underpressure to and from said fluid pressure brake means, a movable brake carrier member constructed and arranged to respond to braking torque produced by operation of said dynamic brake means, and means subject to the opposing forces of braking torque on said member and the fluid pressure in said control pipe for controlling the operation cf said valve means.

3. In a brake controlling system for a railway vehicle of the type equipped with dynamic brake means and fluid pressure brake means, in combination, a brake controlling valve device operable to control application and release of said fluid pressure brake means, a manually operable brake controller constructed and arranged for simultaneously controlling said dynamic brake means and said brake controlling valve device, and torque means responsive to braking torque produced by operation of both said dynamic and iluid pressure brake means for regulating operation of said brake controllingy valve device.

4. A combination dynamic and fluid pressure brake system for railway vehicle comprising dynamic brake means, iluid pressure brake means, manually operable brake controller means operatively interlocked with bothi said dynamic brake means and said uid pressure brake means and selectively operative to effect any desired degree of application of the brakes, torque means for measuring the total braking torque produced during operation of either or both of said two brake means, and a brake controlling valve device automatically operative to regulate the application and release of said iluid pressurev brake means in accordance with the brakingr torque reacting on said torque means, for ensuring a substantially constant'l application of the brakes to a degree corresponding with the setting of said brake controller means.

5. A brake equipment for a railway vehicle having a wheel and axle assembly, comprising a frame structure pivotally mounted on said Wheel and axle assembly, dynamic brake means carried by said frame structure and operatively connected to said assembly, uid pressure brake means carried by said frame structure and arranged to apply braking force to said assembly, controller means for conditioning both said dynamic and fluid pressure brake means for operation, and a brake controlling valve device responsive to braking torque reacting on said frame structure for also controlling said iiuid pressure brake means.

6. A brake equipment for a railway truck having a wheel and axle assembly, comprising a frame structure pivotally mounted on the axle of said assembly and having a motor housing portion and a carrier portion disposed on opposite sides of said axle, a motor operative to effect dynamic braking mounted in said housing portion, a iiuid pressure brake cylinder device secured to said carrier portion, friction brake mechanism hung from said frame structure and operatively connected to said brake cylinder device, a brake controlling valve device carried by said truck and operative to control the pressure of uid operating said brake cylinder device, and a torque arm operatively connecting said frame structure with said brake controlling valve device, said arm being arranged to respond to braking torque reacting on said frame structure for conditioning said brake controlling valve device to withhold operation* of said friction brake mechanism While said dynamic brake means is operative to produce a selected braking effect, and to initiate and regulate an application of the friction brakes when the braking effect produced by said dynamic brake means declines below said selected value.

7. In a brake controlling system for a railway vehicle of the type equipped with dynamic brake means and fluid pressure brake means, in combination, a brake controlling valve device operable to control application and release of said fluid pressure brake means, a control pipe in which the pressure of uid is varied to any selected degree, and torque means governed by the pressure of iluid in said pipe and by the braking torque produced by operation of either or both said dynamic brake means and said uid pressure brake means for regulating operation of said brake controlling valve means.

8. A brake equipment for a railway vehicle having a wheel and axle assembly, comprising a frame structure pivotally mounted on said wheel and axle assem1bly,'dynamic brake means carried by said frame structure and operatively connected to said assembly, iiuid pressure brake means carried by said frame structure and arranged to apply braking force to said assembly, a pipe in which the pressure of fluid is varied to any selected degree, means for varying the pressure in said pipe and for conditioning said dynamic brake means for operation, and means governed by the pressure of fluid in said pipe and also by the braking torque reacting on said frame structure for controlling said fluid pressure brake means.

9. A brake system for railway vehicles comprising, in combination, a pipe in which the pressure of fluid is varied to control applications of the vehicle brakes, a rockable brake carrier mechanism associated with a wheel and axle assem-bly of the vehicle, dynamic brake means carried by said mechanism, iiuid pressure brake means also carried by said mechanism, said mechanism being rockable under the torque reaction due to operation of either or both of said brake means for governing the cooperative eiect thereof, and means governed by the pressure of fluid in said pipe for opposing the rocking movement of said mechanism.

JOHN W. LOGAN, JR. 

